Cary-based software developer SAS Institute has been a proponent of the bill. General counsel John Boswell said that one patent troll company had won $85 million from other companies before going after SAS. After $8 million in litigation costs, SAS won. But when SAS tried to recoup damages against the company, it had only $800 in the bank.

"We can't afford every time we get sued to spend $8 million to prove we're right," Boswell said.

Murry's bill would have allowed SAS to file its own suit to recoup damages against the people behind the shell corporation.

Murry said some companies, including heavy equipment maker Caterpillar, had concerns about the measure but that most of those problems had been worked out.

The Commerce Committee voted in favor of the measure, sending it to a judiciary panel.